Msida SJ: O. Borg, P. Sciriha, S. Grima (I. Babatunde), T. Farrugia, J. Mifsud, D. Cachia (R. Baldacchino), P. Fenech, S. Bajada, A. Farrugia, D. Nwoke, O. Zongo

Hibernians: M. Muscat, A. Xuereb, J. Caruana, K. Cassar (E. Agius), C. Failla (A. Pulis), J. Vella, M. Bartolo (J. Pearson), A. Cohen, P. Doffo, N. Chukunyere, A. Da Silva

Referee: K. Azzopardi Asst.refs: P. Agius, M. Debono 4th official: A. Azzopardi

Scorers: T. Farrugia pen, A. Cohen (2), A. Xuereb

Yellow cards: P. Sciriha, N. Chukunyere, S. Bajada, S. Grima, I. Babatunde

Player of the match: Andrew Cohen (Hibernians)

TMI top three: 1. A. Cohen 2. R. Da Silva 3. M. Bartolo

Inspired by the power play of their mercurial player Andrew Cohen, Hibernians helped themselves to an assured victory against Msida St Joseph, thus putting a halt on their dismal record of three consecutive previous defeats. Cohen had a field day yesterday, with his resourceful runs, dribbles, passes as well as clinical finishing. He scored two goals and was instrumental in the third besides outer close shaves.

Apart from Cohen, Hibernians, who yesterday resembled more a coherent unit, were helped in no small way by Matthew Bartolo’s surging runs down the right flank and the industry of Rocha Da Silva in midfield. They now move to fifth place in the Championship Pool, one point above Birkirkara and one behind Msida, with a top-four finish well within their capabilities.

Msida, also desperately in need to improve on a run of only one win (incidentally against Hibernians) in their last seven matches, failed miserably and looked short of conviction for too long. The good form of the League’s first phase has deserted them as their slump continues as they seem to slip further behind their aspirations with every passing week.

With Babatunde included in the squad but sitting on the bench for an hour, they were the better team for the first half hour, taking the lead on the quarter hour, thanks to a Tyrone Farrugia penalty after Zongo was bundled by Xuereb inside the Hibernians area.

They threatened to outclass their opponents, but when more goals did not immediately follow, Msida lost a little vigour and allowed Hibernians back into the game.

On 20 minutes the Paolites served a warning when Bartolo tested the Msida keeper with a rising shot. Borg was up to task, tipping the ball into a corner.

On 38 minutes Hibernians restored equilibrium when awarded a free-kick on the edge of the area for Sciriha’s foul on Da Silva. Andrew Cohen, back in the side after suspension, took the free-kick with splendid power to beat the Msida wall and the goalkeeper with a low placed shot.

Within a minute, Cohen again scored his side’s second, slotting the ball low past the helpless Borg when put clear by Da Silva’s cross.

Each side effected a substitution at the start of the second half. Baldacchino went in for Cachia in the Msida team while Cassar made way for Agius for Hibernians.

Some chaotic play upped the game’s tempo with Msida probing for an equaliser but Hibernians remained menacing whenever they funneled their attacks, mostly starting from Cohen’s feet. A Bartolo shot was saved by Borg until Hibernians increased their lead on 54 minutes as defender Aaron Xuereb beat Borg with a firm header on Cohen’s free-kick from the right.

Msida were frustrated and a distinctly nervous unit as they retorted to some niggling fouls. Sciriha, Bajada and Grima were all booked.

Past the hour, Bartolo could have sealed the issue when put clear by Vella’s long ball forward. Keeper Borg did well to deflect his effort into a corner.

On the other end, Muscat held out Zongo’s powerful close range drive before the Saints put in Babatunde.

But Hibernians, very much on song, were not to be denied and Msida were lucky to avoid further derision in the late stages when Chukunyere thumped his shot against the post after good work by Cohen and the latter’s goal bound effort was cleared on the line by Farrugia. Msida urgently need a psychological boost to halt the slump.